Which is better, 3scale or Kong?

Kong edges out 3scale based on user ratings across 102 reviews. That said, the best pick depends on your workflow — 3scale may be a stronger fit for specific team sizes or use cases. Review the full comparison to decide.

What are the main differences between 3scale and Kong?

Key differences between 3scale and Kong include pricing (3scale starts at $750 vs Kong at $250). Use the Spotsaas comparison table to evaluate each dimension before deciding.

Do both 3scale and Kong offer a Free trial?

Yes, both 3scale and Kong offer a Free Trial.

Who are the typical users of 3scale?

3scale is designed for Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business.

Who are the typical users of Kong?

Kong is designed for Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business.

What is the starting price of 3scale and Kong?

Pricing for 3scale starts at $750/Month, whereas Kong starts at $250/Month.

What are the best alternatives to 3scale?

Some top alternatives to 3scale include Akana Platform, Apigee Edge, IBM API Connect, Kong, MuleSoft Anypoint Platform.

What are the best alternatives to Kong?

Some top alternatives to Kong include Akana Platform, 3scale, Apigee Edge, WSO2 API Manager, Tyk API Management Platform.

3scale vs Kong Comparison

Last updated: May 19, 2026

3scale

3.9(10 reviews)

Starting at $750 /Month

Free Trial
Large Enterprises
Medium Business

3scale API Management Software enables businesses to easily manage APIs, providing a complete toolset for publishing, managing and monetizing APIs. 3scale provides a complete toolset for publishing, managing and monetizi…

View Pricing Read Reviews

Kong

4.2(102 reviews)

Starting at $250 /Month

Free Trial
Large Enterprises
Medium Business

Kong is API management software, that allows Web and Mobile applications to access data, content and functions published by 3rd party providers. Kong works with any Public or Private API as well as any type of data sourc…

View Pricing Read Reviews

Kong leads on user satisfaction with a 4.2-star rating across 102 reviews.

SpotSaaS Analysis

3scaleKong

The core difference between 3scale and Kong lies in 3scale's comprehensive API management and monetization features versus Kong's flexibility and extensibility through a plugin-oriented architecture. 3scale is ideal for medium to large enterprises with dedicated API product managers, while Kong is best suited for teams of API developers and DevOps looking for customization.

- Comprehensive API lifecycle toolset - Best for medium to large enterprises - Focus on API management and monetization - Requires dedicated API product managers - Price: $750 - Strong support for publishing and management

- Highly customizable API gateway - Plugin-oriented architecture - Best for enterprises with a developer focus - Ideal for API developers and DevOps teams - Price: $250 - Strong emphasis on extensibility

3scale vs Kong — at a glance

Feature	3scale	Kong
Rating	3.9 / 5	4.2 / 5
Reviews	10	102
Starting price	$750 /Month	$250 /Month
Free trial	Yes	Yes
Free version	No	No
Best for	Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business	Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
Category	API Management Software	API Management Software
Platforms	SaaS/Web/Cloud	SaaS/Web/Cloud
API	—	Available
Support modes	Business Hours, Online	Online
Certifications	SOC 2, GDPR, ISO 27001	SOC 2, GDPR, ISO 27001
Data residency	Global	Global

Key differences between 3scale and Kong

Pricing: 3scale starts at $750 /Month, while Kong starts at $250 /Month.
User satisfaction: Kong scores higher with a 4.2-star average.
Deployment: 3scale supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Kong supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

3scale vs Kong — find the better fit before you commit.

Which tool fits your team best

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most API Management Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Biggest differences

Features

Pricing

Buying details

Security

Buyer feedback

Integrations

Product tour

Other options

	3scale (2) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert	Kong (15) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Affiliate Disclosure

Start here before you go deeper into features.

3scale

Best for medium to large enterprises needing comprehensive API management and monetization.

Choose if

You require a full API lifecycle toolset including publishing, management, and monetization.
Your organization is medium-sized or larger with dedicated API product managers and developer teams.
You want flexible subscription options and a free trial to evaluate before committing.

Consider alternatives if

You are a startup or very small business with limited API management needs.
You need highly customizable or niche API management features or simpler setup.

Kong

Best for enterprises needing flexible, extensible API management with strong developer focus.

Choose if

You require a highly customizable API gateway with plugin-oriented architecture.
Your team consists of API developers, DevOps, or technical product managers.
You operate a medium to large enterprise with complex microservices architectures.

Consider alternatives if

Your team includes non-technical users needing an intuitive, user-friendly UI.
You are a small business lacking dedicated API development resources.

3scale: Best for medium to large enterprises needing comprehensive API management and monetization. Kong: Best for enterprises needing flexible, extensible API management with strong developer focus.

Description	3scale API Management Software enables businesses to easily manage APIs, providing a complete toolset for publishing, managing and monetizing APIs. 3scale provides a complete toolset for ... Read More about 3scale	Kong is API management software, that allows Web and Mobile applications to access data, content and functions published by 3rd party providers. Kong works with any Public or Private API as ... Read More about Kong
Entry Level Pricing	Starts from $750	Starts from $250
Free Trial Availability	Free Trial available	Free Trial available
Spotsaas Score What's this? ↗	8.7/10	9.3/10
User Ratings Based on verified Spotsaas reviews	3.9 (10)	4.2 (102)
Best Company Size	Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises	Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises
	Get pricing help	Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

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Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

How do 3scale and Kong Compare on Features?

Total Features	9 Features	10 Features
Unique Features	No unique features	No unique features
	Get Quote	Get Quote

Compare 3scale and Kong on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option
Starting From	$750	$250
Pricing Plans	Not Available	Not Available
Pricing Page
	View detailed pricing	View detailed pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported	Large Enterprises Medium Business Small Business Individuals Freelancers	Large Enterprises Medium Business Small Business Individuals Freelancers
Platforms Supported	Browser Based (Cloud) Mobile - Android Installed - Windows Installed - Mac Mobile - iOS Browser Based (Cloud)	Browser Based (Cloud) Mobile - Android Installed - Windows Installed - Mac Mobile - iOS Browser Based (Cloud)
Modes of support	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online
API Support	Not Available	Available
	Get help choosing	Get help choosing

Security & Compliance

Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

SOC 2	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
GDPR	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
ISO 27001	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
Single Sign-On (SSO)	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
Data Encryption	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
Audit Logs	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
Data Residency	🌐 Global	🌐 Global

3scale User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings	3.9 (based on 10 reviews)	4.2 (based on 102 reviews)
Rating Distribution	1 0 1 0 0	6 7 1 0 1
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI	Buyer sentiment User sentiment is mixed with appreciation for comprehensive features but concerns about pricing transparency and complexity. What buyers like Feature completeness Flexibility Support for monetization Common complaints Pricing opacity Complexity of setup	Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlights Kong's flexibility, strong community support, and extensibility, tempered by concerns over usability and interface performance. What buyers like Flexibility and versatility Community and documentation support Plugin architecture and extensibility Common complaints Complex and slow interface Lack of user-friendly UI for non-developers
Pros and Cons	Comprehensive API management toolset covering publishing, management, and monetization Supports multiple business sizes from medium to large enterprises Offers free trial allowing evaluation before purchase Limited publicly available pricing information complicates budgeting Relatively low rating (3.9) with few reviews indicating mixed user satisfaction	Highly flexible and versatile with plugin-oriented architecture Strong documentation and active developer community Open source with built-in plugins enhancing extensibility Interface can be slow and intimidating for novice users Limited plugin development support for Python, Ruby, and JavaScript
Positive Reviews	No reviews available for the product	No reviews available for the product
	Read reviews	Read reviews

List of Customers

Customers	No Customers information available.	Expedia Verifone WeWork

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots	No screenshots available.	2 Screenshots
Videos	1 Videos	1 Videos

Top Alternatives to 3scale and Kong in 2026

Alternatives	Akana Platform 4 Apigee Edge 4.1 IBM API Connect 3.2	Akana Platform 4 3scale 3.9 Apigee Edge 4.1

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, 3scale or Kong?: Kong edges out the other on user ratings (4.2 vs 3.9). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
Do 3scale and Kong offer a free trial?: Yes, both 3scale and Kong offer a free trial.
What is the starting price of 3scale vs Kong?: 3scale starts at $750 /Month. Kong starts at $250 /Month.
What are the top alternatives to 3scale?: Top alternatives to 3scale include Akana Platform, Apigee Edge, IBM API Connect, Kong, MuleSoft Anypoint Platform.
What are the top alternatives to Kong?: Top alternatives to Kong include Akana Platform, 3scale, Apigee Edge, WSO2 API Manager, Tyk API Management Platform.

3scale vs Kong Comparison

3scale

Kong

3scale vs Kong — at a glance

Key differences between 3scale and Kong

3scale vs Kong — find the better fit before you commit.

3scale

Kong

Biggest differences

Description

Entry Level Pricing

Free Trial Availability

Spotsaas Score

User Ratings

Best Company Size

Software Demo

Demo

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

How do 3scale and Kong Compare on Features?

Compare 3scale and Kong on pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported

Platforms Supported

Modes of support

API Support

Security & Compliance

3scale User Reviews & Rating Comparison

List of Customers

Customers

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots

Videos

Top Alternatives to 3scale and Kong in 2026

Related Blogs and Articles for Api Management Software

Frequently asked questions